Wu Claps Back At Capitol Hill “Bullies” With New Quality of Life Policies at State of City Address

After a brief intro from religious leaders and an original score by eighth-grader Mendez Pierre, Mayor Michelle Wu took the stage for her third annual State of The City Address.

The mayor celebrated her administration’s victories over the past year and fired back at threats from Washington to ‘bring hell to Boston. “No one tells Boston how to take care of our own. Not kings and not presidents who think they are kings,” she said. “Boston was born facing down bullies.”

The plans to face down said bullies include new policies designed to combat displacement by lowering the cost of living, expanding opportunities, and doubling efforts to ensure Boston is the best city for families.

A new pilot program will offer zero-interest loans for multifamily households looking to co-purchase multifamily homes. “In many homes, including my own, multigenerational families share the same roof. Co-purchasing can make buying a home more accessible and make sharing meals and moments a built-in part of life,” she said.

To ensure those homes make it through the New England winters, a new partnership with Eversource and National Grid will deliver $150 million in state funding to upgrade homes and lower heating bills. “If you need new windows or an updated heating system, we’ll find every dollar available to get the job done.”

She announced that “all new big buildings” will have net-zero carbon emissions from day one as of this summer. Emphasis here on new. It is unlikely that current projects will be held to any new requirements. Still, Wu hopes affordable homes in greener buildings will make Boston a leader in climate action and create new jobs for its young people.

Older, defunct office buildings throughout the city may also be given a second life as housing under an expansion of the Office to Residential Conversion Program to be now open to universities and employers. “If you’re looking to reactivate office buildings as dorms or workforce housing, we will work with you to make it happen.”

Wu also shared the progress made for Boston Public Schools students. She reported more kids enrolling in our schools, getting to class on time, and enjoying a higher graduation rate.

Schools with trade programs and other career tracks will expand. The co-op program at Masion Park High School is set to triple in size, and an inaugural class of 200 ninth graders will enroll at the new Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers this fall.

A partnership with the Young People’s Project and the Calculus Project will also ensure access to new after-school math clubs and competitions.

When out of school, students can expect to enjoy more time at our many cultural sites through the expansion of the Boston Family Days program to include free passes to museums, historical landmarks, and performing arts institutions, including the Huntington Theatre, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Ballet.

“We are connecting our young people to an excellent and expansive education,” she said. “Rigorous academics, summer learning and jobs, after-school enrichment, student athletics, and access to the arts.”

For Boston’s older residents, Wu offered lower taxes and more activity. This summer, new senior centers are scheduled to open across five neighborhoods. Groundwork is also being laid with the city and state governments to make life generally more affordable and keep seniors within the communities.

Noticeably absent from Wu’s speech was any reference to the upcoming mayoral race – but that does not mean this wasn’t a campaign stop.

In a previous statement to Caught In Southie, Wu shared that she thinks “…the best way you can do well in politics or elections is just to do a good job.” By rolling out these new quality-of-life policies, Wu ensures that we feel her presence all year. On election day, when her administration is fixing your windows, increasing the quality of your kid’s education, and helping you become a homeowner, Wu hopes you will decide how good a job she has done at the ballot box.

The mayor ended the night with hope for her children and a line in the sand for any would-be tyrants. “We are the city that leads in the storm, that stands up under pressure together and finds strength in each other. We will defend the people we love with all that we’ve got,” she said.

“God bless our city, God bless our people, and God save whoever messes with Boston.”